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Topic Review (Newest First)

05-10-2013 07:28 AM

MrPelicano

Re: Look at that!!!!! The Greek are crazy..or Brave

Very impressive boat handling and coordination with shore crew. You can see one of the shore crew toss the heaving line to the ferry crew about 1/4 of the way into the video, so they clearly know the drill.

For remote locations that depend primarily on ferry service, they can't simply cease operations when conditions are less-than-idyllic. As someone noted, the Greeks (and others) have been doing this kind of thing for generations, so it probably isn't that big a deal to them as it appears to those of us less accustomed to such things.

MrP

05-10-2013 06:16 AM

PCP

Re: Look at that!!!!! The Greek are crazy..or Brave

Yes, That is an amazing handling of the ship and contrary to modern ferries they don´t have directional trust on the bow and transom, they make it the hard way.

There is little the boat captain could do. He put the boat on the right place but the wind was just on the wrong direction and windage has done the rest.

In fact the second line was not needed. It would have been a smarter move to put both lines on the same bollard.

05-09-2013 11:57 PM

SchockT

Re: Look at that!!!!! The Greek are crazy..or Brave

I am guessing they used the same technique as this ferry, backing in on their anchor. In this case they used both bollards, but their mooring line broke. I can see how the bollard in the first video could have been ripped off in a previous incident.

05-09-2013 04:54 PM

carl762

Re: Look at that!!!!! The Greek are crazy..or Brave

Loved the video. Great skilz, hopefully which I'll eventually acquire a fraction of...

We bitch about standing in line to board a plane! They probably run on time, too!

Life is good!

05-09-2013 04:34 PM

eherlihy

Re: Look at that!!!!! The Greek are crazy..or Brave

Free car/truck/motorcycle wash with every trip. And, a free shower for the passengers!

It looks like they were fleeing the Nazis...

No thank you...

05-09-2013 04:19 PM

downeast450

Re: Look at that!!!!! The Greek are crazy..or Brave

Very clever work. Masterful! They must do it regularly by the looks of it. Using the ferry as its own breakwater. Nice! Notice it isn't snowing! I am guessing the water is a little warmer than the Gulf of Maine. Seems like the Greeks have been practicing for a few THOUSAND YEARS!

I can't help wondering about the evolutionary history of this maneuver. "Do you think I am ready, Sir?". "Sure son, no sweat! Back 'er down and give it a go!" I wonder if they set a kedge?
Perhaps a bollard off the bow somewhere? Probably not. Just good seamanship and good equipment.

They probably don't try it in bad weather!

Down

05-09-2013 03:58 PM

krisscross

Re: Look at that!!!!! The Greek are crazy..or Brave

With so many islands, most of which do not have nice, cozy harbors, Greek ferry captains and ferry users have to be good. Why only one bollard being used? That way the ship's movement in a rough sea is a lot more predictable.
Awesome video. Thanks! Always wanted to go sailing there.

05-09-2013 03:11 PM

kellysails

Re: Look at that!!!!! The Greek are crazy..or Brave

There's a reason why when the Suez Canal opened that they came in and hired away every Greek captain they could get their hands on as canal pilots. These captains are amazing. I was lucky enough to sail in the Greek Cyclades Islands and witness their trade craft first hand.

05-09-2013 01:28 PM

SloopJonB

Re: Look at that!!!!! The Greek are crazy..or Brave

I caught a glimpse of the pier to the left of the screen that looked like a couple of old bollards had been ripped out of the concrete.

Probably why they dock it with a single line.

Loading a ferry while waves up to waist deep wash across the pier is not crazy, it's just stupid - unless it's an extreme emergency. Near the end of the vid one of the dockhands nearly got washed away.

Not something worth dying over.

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